CS/HB 999 - Medical Billing Summary

• Creates section 222.26 to exempt up to $10,000 in a motor vehicle or $10,000 in personal property from legal process for medical debts owed to licensed facilities.

• Requires licensed facilities to provide written good faith cost estimates to patients before nonemergency services, with estimates provided within 7 business days of request; facilities may not charge more than 110 percent of the estimate without written explanation of excess charges.

• Imposes daily fines of $1,000 (capped at $10,000) on facilities that fail to timely provide cost estimates to patients.

• Requires facilities to establish internal grievance processes allowing patients to dispute charges, with grievance instructions prominently posted and initial responses provided within 7 business days.

• Prohibits licensed facilities from engaging in extraordinary collection actions (debt sales, credit reporting, wage garnishment, property liens, civil suits, etc.) before determining financial assistance eligibility, providing itemized bills, completing grievance processes, allowing insurer claims adjudication, and providing 30 days' written notice.

• Takes effect July 1, 2019.